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Sometimes intestinal gas pain just won’t quit with standard treatment. As long as your doctor has assured you that your excessive gas is not the symptom of a more serious digestive health problem, you might want to look into your other options.

Peppermint is one of the most studied carminatives — remedies that cause the expulsion of gas from the stomach or intestines. “Some people believe that carminatives are effective natural herbal digestion aids,” says Donald Novey, MD, an integrative medicine physician with the Advocate Medical Group in Park Ridge, Ill. Peppermint has been known to help treat irritable bowel syndrome, skin rashes, gallstones, and coughs and colds.

The menthol in the peppermint is considered to be the key ingredient — it's believed to have an antispasmodic effect on the gastrointestinal tract. In some small trials, peppermint was shown to reduce gas more than the placebo did; however, larger studies have not shown clear-cut benefits. Peppermint also can cause heartburn in some people, so you may be trading one symptom for another. Peppermint is available as a tea or in capsule form. Other carminatives, like cinnamon and ginger, may help settle the stomach and reduce gas pain when ingested.

Some people believe that coffee stimulates acid production in the stomach, Dr. Novey says. “That’s why people have coffee after a meal." Coffee stimulates stomach acid, which can help you digest food, but Novey doesn't recommend people drink too much of it.

Alternative Therapies for Gas Pain: Charcoal and the Pro(biotic) Side of Treatment

You will find over-the-counter activated charcoal sold under names like CharcoCaps. No controlled studies have shown that activated charcoal reduces intestinal gas. However, it is believed that it has adsorbent properties — meaning activated charcoal can attract and gather intestinal gas on its surface — and some people find it helpful. Stephen Bickston, MD, professor of internal medicine and director of the inflammatory bowel disease center at Virginia Commonwealth University Health Center in Richmond, Va., says taking activated charcoal can’t hurt the body.

Another alternative therapy you will find is probiotics, “beneficial bacteria,” in yogurt and other fermented foods, as well as on the supplement shelf. Studies have not confirmed that probiotics reduce gas or other abdominal symptoms; however, probiotics can bring the bacteria in your colon back in balance, which may eliminate excessive gas. This intestinal balance can be out of whack from having taken antibiotics, in which case probiotics in capsule form may help.

Alternative Therapies for Gas Pain: Feeling the Pressure

Acupressure is a technique that combines acupuncture and pressure — adding physical pressure to acupuncture points. Some believe that acupressure can speed the time it takes for food to work its way through your digestive system. It empties the stomach faster, which could mean that less gas forms, Novey says. However, acupressure, like hypnotherapy, is expensive and there are other, simpler measures available that don't cost as much. Novey compares acupressure to medication, saying “it works when it’s used, but the effect tends to wear off when you stop.”

Several clinical trials have shown that hypnosis can help people with irritable bowel syndrome relax. When they relax, they have less stomach discomfort, including that caused by gas. Hypnosis involves imagining soothing images, but it's not something that works immediately. You may need weekly sessions spread across several months, which can be costly, especially because many insurance companies do not cover the treatment.

Probably the most effective natural remedy for excessive gas is eliminating foods that give you gas from your diet. Everyone reacts differently to foods, but some products that commonly cause gas include beans, onions, celery, raisins, bananas, wheat germ, and fermentable fiber. You should be able to tell within a week or two whether eliminating any or all of these foods from your diet reduces your symptoms, Dr. Bickston says.

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